Typing Speed Requirements by Job (US, UK, Canada, Australia) — 2026

The short version

If you can type 45 net WPM at 95% accuracy over five minutes, you meet most office typing requirements in all six countries. Above that, requirements depend on the job’s content: secretaries type from audio, transcriptionists type for hours, and data-entry staff are measured on the numeric keypad.

The full table

Below is the complete dataset behind our requirements page — 60 jobs and exams. Rows marked “published” quote a source; everything else is a typical range from job-posting language and must be checked against the posting.

Fixed standards worth knowing

• US federal: 40 WPM on a 5-minute sample with 3 or fewer errors — practise it.
• California state: a proctored 5-minute certificate at 40+ WPM, valid four years — details.
• Canadian 5-minute test: errors allowed per minute rise with speed (1 at 29–44, 2 at 45–54, 3 at 55–72 WPM) — practise it.
• Court reporting (US): NCRA’s RPR needs 180–225 WPM on a stenotype — a different machine entirely.

Why the same job differs by employer

A receptionist at a small dental practice and one at a law firm do different amounts of typing, so they are tested differently. Staffing agencies also set bars to suit their clients. The range in the table is where most postings land; the posting in front of you is the only rule that matters.

Net, gross, KPH — which number do they mean?

Nearly always net WPM, which deducts errors. Data-entry roles may quote keystrokes per hour (KPH); divide by 300 to get WPM. Criteria’s test reports “adjusted WPM”, which is WPM minus errors. Our methodology page has every formula.

How to use this

1. Find your job in the table and open its practice test.
2. Take three runs at the test’s real length and use the middle score.
3. If you are short, follow the 7- or 30-day plan on that page.

Requirements by country, in one paragraph each

United States: government standards are the most precise — 40 WPM, five minutes, three errors for federal qualified-typist roles; proctored 40 WPM certificates in California. Private employers and staffing agencies mostly test 1–5 minutes and ask 35–60 WPM. Data entry is often measured in KPH.

United Kingdom: copy typing for admin (40–60 WPM), audio typing for medical and legal secretaries (around 50–60+ WPM), and short tests while listening for police call handlers. Most Civil Service roles do not test typing.

Canada: the five-minute onscreen test with an errors-per-minute table is widespread; the employer sets the minimum speed. Bilingual roles may test French separately.

Australia, New Zealand and Ireland: no national standards; recruiters run short online tests. Court transcription in Australia commonly needs around 70 WPM; medical and legal secretaries are tested on audio.

Why accuracy rules are often stricter than speed rules

Most people can reach 40 WPM. Far fewer can type for five minutes with three or fewer errors. Employers care because errors create real work: a mistyped figure on an invoice, a misspelt drug name, a wrong house number on an emergency call. That is why so many tests cap errors or set an accuracy floor around 95%.

How to turn a requirement into a target

1. Take the stated speed and add 5–10 WPM as a test-day margin.
2. Practise at the stated length — or five minutes if none is given.
3. Match the error rule: count words with mistakes if the test does.
4. Rehearse the format: audio, data entry or copy.

Each practice page has a 7- and 30-day plan built on that order. Start from the filterable table.

How we handle numbers

Every figure on this site is either quoted from a source we checked, computed from our own data with the method stated, or labelled as a typical range. Sources show the date they were checked; requirement tables are reviewed quarterly; and we never present a typical range as an official rule. If you spot an out-of-date figure, tell us.

You are welcome to cite our tables and statistics with credit to Ai-TypingTest.com and a link. Formulas for WPM, accuracy, KPH and pass rules are on the methodology page.

Sources

1. Clerk (Office Automation), GS-0303 — 40 WPM, five-minute sample — USAJOBS (checked October 18, 2026)
2. Typing certification — CalHR requirements — CalCareers (CalHR) (checked October 18, 2026)
3. Canadian Typing — General (5 minutes, onscreen): errors per minute by speed — SHL / IBM Kenexa catalogue (checked October 18, 2026)
4. Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) — skills test speeds — National Court Reporters Association (checked October 18, 2026)